Meat and Milk Imports Fall in Russia

RUSSIA - President Medvedev has announced that meat imports will account for one-quarter of all meat consumption this year, down from one-third in 2008.

In the current year Russia may import one quarter of all meat consumed in the country against one-third imported in 2008, reports Meat Russia.

The data were presented by Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, when answering the question on the country's food safety provision measures during the meeting with reporter from the Russian 'First Channel'.

According to the President's food safety concept, Russia will become self-sufficient in the main food product types. However, President Medvedev admitted that currently some requirements of the concept were not met, as milk and meat production sectors had not shown the required progress.

Nevertheless, the President said that meat and milk imports to Russia are down, which has allowed the domestic agricultural sector to develop, at the same time preventing the industry from price hikes for products purchased with foreign currency.